IP Library Granted Patent US 12,258,827
Granted Patent B2
US 12,258,827 · App. 18/122,539 · Granted Mar 25, 2025

Compliant compression plate for a slip hanger or packoff

Inventors: Samuel Cheng (Katy, TX); Paul Cody (Houston, TX)
Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
E21B23/01E21B23/06E21B43/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,258,827
App. No.
18/122,539
Granted
Mar 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

In at least one embodiment, a compression plate to be used with a slip hanger or a packoff in oilfield equipment is disclosed. The compression plate includes one or more grooves or slots extending circumferentially with respect to an axis of the slip hanger or the packoff. The compression plate is to be associated with an annulus seal gland of the slip hanger or the packoff and is to enable a gland volume of the annulus seal gland to change with temperature applied to the slip hanger or the packoff.

Claims (34)

1. A system for a slip hanger to be used with oilfield equipment, comprising:

a plurality of slip segments; and

a compression plate comprising bolt holes to associate with the plurality of slip segments and comprising one or more of a plurality of grooves or a plurality of slots extending circumferentially with respect to an axis of the slip hanger that is around a tubular, the compression plate to be associated with an annulus seal gland of the slip hanger and to enable a gland volume of the annulus seal gland to change with temperature applied to the slip hanger, wherein the gland volume comprises a space formed within a slip bowl of the slip hanger and at least portions of the tubular, a wellhead housing, and the compression plate.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the change in the gland volume enables one or more of:

a preload in the annulus seal gland to be maintained at a first temperature in which a compression seal that is associated with the slip hanger contracts; or

an expansion of the compression seal without extrusion at a second predetermined temperature in which the compression seal expands, wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of grooves are continuous around a circumference of the compression plate.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of grooves comprise one or more of first grooves that extend from an inner surface and partly towards an outer surface of the compression plate or second grooves that extend from an outer surface and partly towards an inner surface of the compression plate.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein individual ones of the plurality of slots extend from an inner surface and fully through an outer surface of the compression plate.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the compression plate is interchangeable based in part on an application of the slip hanger.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a plurality of compression plates comprising different geometric configurations of a plurality of second grooves or a plurality of second slots, individual ones of the plurality of compression plates to address different compliance than the compression plate, in an application of the slip hanger, wherein the compression plate is replaceable in the application with at least one of the of the individual ones of the plurality of compression plates.

8. A compression plate to be used with a slip hanger that comprises a plurality of slip segments and that is around a tubular in oilfield equipment, the compression plate comprising bolt holes to associate with the plurality of slip segments and comprising one or more of a plurality of grooves or a plurality of slots extending circumferentially with respect to an axis of the slip hanger, the compression plate to be associated with an annulus seal gland of the slip hanger and to enable a gland volume of the annulus seal gland to change with temperature applied to the slip hanger, wherein the gland volume comprises a space formed within a slip bowl of the slip hanger and at least portions of the tubular, a wellhead housing, and the compression plate.

9. The compression plate of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of grooves are continuous around a circumference of the compression plate.

10. The compression plate of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of grooves comprise one or more of first grooves that extend from an inner surface and partly towards an outer surface of the compression plate or second grooves that extend from an outer surface and partly towards an inner surface of the compression plate.

11. The compression plate of claim 8 , wherein individual ones of the plurality of slots extend from an inner surface and fully through an outer surface of the compression plate.

12. The compression plate of claim 8 , wherein the compression plate is interchangeable with one of a plurality of compression plates, based in part on an application of the slip hanger, the plurality of compression plates comprising different geometric configurations of a plurality of second grooves or a plurality of second slots, individual ones of the plurality of compression plates to address different compliance than the compression plate, in the application of the slip hanger.

13. A method for a slip hanger to be used around a tubular of an oilfield equipment, comprising:

determining a load or a temperature to be applied to the slip hanger that comprises a plurality of slip segments;

determining a compression plate to be used with the slip hanger from a plurality of compression plates that are replaceable within the slip hanger, based in part on the load or the temperature to be applied; and

providing the compression plate to be associated with an annulus seal gland of the slip hanger, the compression plate comprising bolt holes to associate with the plurality of slip segments and comprising one or more of a plurality of grooves or a plurality of slots extending circumferentially with respect to an axis of the slip hanger, the one or more of the plurality of grooves or the plurality of slots to enable a gland volume of the annulus seal gland to change with temperature applied to the slip hanger, wherein the gland volume comprises a space formed within a slip bowl of the slip hanger and at least portions of the tubular, a wellhead housing, and the compression plate.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

providing a compression seal located adjacent to the compression plate and to be comprised of an elastomer material.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

enabling the plurality of grooves to be continuous around a circumference of the compression plate.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

enabling the plurality of grooves to comprise one or more of first grooves that extend from an inner surface and partly towards an outer surface of the compression plate or second grooves that extend from an outer surface and partly towards an inner surface of the compression plate.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

enabling the individual ones of the plurality of slots to extend from an inner surface and fully through an outer surface of the compression plate.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of compression plates comprises different geometric configurations of a plurality of second grooves or a plurality of second slots, individual ones of the plurality of compression plates to address different compliance than the compression plate, in different applications comprising different loads or temperatures on the slip hanger.

19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

machining different geometric configurations for the plurality of grooves and the plurality of slots of the compression plate and for a plurality of second grooves and a plurality of second slots of a plurality of compression plates, based in part on different loads or temperatures enabled for the slip hanger, wherein different applications are associated with the different loads or temperatures on the slip hanger.

20. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

fastening the compression plate with a compression seal located adjacent to the compression plate using a plurality of fasteners associated with a plurality of fastener holes through the compression plate, through the compression seal, and into the slip bowl.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2026
From: VETCO GRAY, LLC; BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
To: BAKER HUGHES PRESSURE CONTROL LLC
Reel/Frame 073435/0135 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2023
From: CHENG, SAMUEL; CODY, PAUL
To: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 063006/0175 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240309716A1 · Sep 19, 2024
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